MLB Rumors

White Sox starter Chris Sale was scratched from Wednesday's start against the Red Sox as a precautionary measure due to mild tendinitis in his left shoulder. He is expected to miss just one start.

Sale will be replaced Hector Santiago on Wednesday but is expected to make his next start Tuesday against the Cubs. He has struck out 19 and has not allowed a run over his last 23 innings of work. Sale is 4-0 with a 1.18 ERA in his last five starts.

Giants reliever Santiago Casilla, who was recently placed on the 15-day disabled list with a knee injury, is expected to see a specialist Wednesday to get a second opinion on his knee, according to the Mercury News.

Casilla wore a brace to help alleviate a cyst on his right knee since early. He is 3-2 with a 1.89 ERA and one save in 21 appearances.

Angels starter Joe Blanton could be the odd pitcher out of the rotation when Jered Weaver is able to return from the disabled list, the Los Angeles Times speculates Tuesday. 

Weaver is making what could be his last extended spring training appearance Wednesday on the same day that Blanton is scheduled to start next. 

Blanton is 0-7 on the year with an ugly 6.62 ERA after nine starts. His WHIP is 1.97 and he's struck out 35 over 50 1/3 innings. 

The Braves are not expected to activate Jordan Walden from the disabled list when he is first eligible Monday, but that does not mean his return is far off. According to MLB.com, Walden should be active at some point next week.

Walden made it through a few sessions of long toss Tuesday without pain, and said his shoulder is feeling better.

"[My shoulder] is strong right now," Walden said. "I played catch today and it was better than it has been almost all season."

Walden is expected to go through a bullpen session and at least one minor-league rehab assignment before he is activated. The Braves could really use the help in the bullpen, after placing two pitchers on the disabled list with season-ending elbow surgery in the last week. 

White Sox manager Robin Ventura told Comcast SportsNet Chicago that Gordon Beckham will not be switching from second base to shortstop, despite playing shortstop during Monday's rehab game.

Ventura worked out Beckham at shortstop during spring break but never used him in a game. Ventura wants to see if he is capable of handling a limited role at shortstop on days when Alexei Ramirez is not in the lineup.

"When everybody starts getting healthy you can only fit so many people in certain spots," Ventura said. "Alexei is the shortstop. But in case you need somebody there, is (Beckham) able to do that? That's more of a reason to have him do it. I want him to play second base here. But for one game, or if something happens before you could get somebody up here, would he be able to do it? … You start to find out if he's comfortable."

Beckham, who played shortstop in college, has gone 6 for 13 with two RBI in three rehab games and could be back with the White Sox at the end of the week.

Josh Vitters has not lived up to the hype of his first-round pedigree, but the Cubs are thin at third base and have not yet given up on the 23-year-old. He is receiving the majority of the at-bats at Triple-A Iowa, and the team still believes he can be the future at the position.

"[Vitters] is the priority, put it that way," Dale Sveum told MLB.com Tuesday. "Who knows about third baseman of the future, but he's a priority to develop as that guy. The guy was a first-round pick and the guy can swing the bat. We still have to develop him with the thought of him being our third baseman some day. He's got power, he can swing, he can hit a fastball. But there's a lot of development left in him."

Vitters is still more of a developmental prospect, stuck behind current third baseman Luis Valbuena, who is fourth on the team with an .811 onbase plus slugging percentage.

Angels starter Tommy Hanson will "most likely" miss his start scheduled for Saturday in Kansas City, the Los Angeles Times reports Tuesday. 

Hanson has been away from the team since early May following the death of his step brother. The Angels were hoping to get him back Saturday, but would like him to get some work at extended spring training first. 

Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin was held out of Tuesday's starting lineup against the Cardinals after tweaking his knee in an awkward slide on Monday. Manager Bud Black says he will return to the lineup Wednesday.

Quentin has played just twice since May 15. He is hitting .200 (5 for 25) in his last seven games played.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia said Tuesday that it is possible starter Jered Weaver is activated after his extended spring training appearance Wednesday, the Los Angeles Times reports. Weaver is recovering from a fractured radius in his left arm. 

Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard was back in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, after missing the team's previous two games with left knee soreness.

Howard had a cortisone injection in the knee and hopes that he will be able to play through any lingering issues moving forward.